Lowering New York City’s default speed limit from 30 to 25 mph depends on the votes of a handful of key state senators tomorrow, the final day of the legislative session. Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein expects his bill to come up for a vote, according to WNYC, but the measure could become a victim of party politics.

The senators to keep an eye on are Marty Golden, Andrew Lanza, Tony Avella, and Diane Savino. None of them have responded to Streetsblog’s requests for comment. Golden and Lanza, the city’s two Republican senators, will likely determine the ultimate position of Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos of Long Island.

Skelos, who shares power with Klein in a day-by-day agreement, remains noncommittal. “I don’t know if it will be on the floor. It is certainly one of the things we will be discussing,” he said, according tothe Daily News. “I know how important it is to Mayor de Blasio and he’s certainly one of my best friends.”

Mayor de Blasio, you may remember, brokered an endorsement deal with the Working Families Party in which Governor Cuomo came out in favor of Democratic control of the Senate, a shift that would cost Skelos his position atop the chamber. Best friends, indeed.

Things are more certain in the Assembly, where there are two bills waiting in the wings with the backing of Speaker Sheldon Silver. One is a comprehensive 25 mph bill that makes it easier for the city to expand 20 mph zones. The other is an identical copy of Klein’s Senate bill. Earlier today, according to Capital New York’s Jimmy Vielkind, Silver said there were significant differences between the two bills and that the houses had not come to an agreement.

But Daniel O’Donnell, the original sponsor of speed limit legislation in the Assembly, told Capital New York that he would be willing to move on Klein’s version, if it survives the Senate. “I’m uncertain whether or not Mr. Klein can get his bill passed. If the Senate’s going to move a bill, we’ll move that bill. If not, I’ll move on a bill that the city’s been asking for since January,” he said.

For its part, the city has said it will take either version of the legislation. This morning, the City Council voted 38-2 for a home rule message from the mayor backing Klein’s bill. Last week, it voted 40-4 for a home rule message on the Silver-O’Donnell bill. Republicans Steven Matteo and Vincent Ignizio of Staten Island opposed today’s measure; they were joined last week by Eric Ulrich of Queens, who was absent today, and Jumaane Williams of Brooklyn, who voted in favor this morning.

Stephen Miller
is a reporter for Streetsblog NYC. He has been covering the movement for safer streets, effective transit, and livable cities since 2012.

Effectively, this is all going to come down to whether the state’s top pols can come to terms on some ghoulish bargain behind closed doors. Our electeds are SO awesome.

Eric McClure

I blame myself for not explaining the benefits of lower speed limits adequately, because surely these upstanding public servants would never stand in the way of passing a law that could save the lives of dozens of New York City residents, right?

Just called them all, and after I called Avella’s office, I was told he is definitely behind this legislation. So everyone, when you call before tomorrow is over, save his for last, because his staffer energetically guaranteeing his support is a really nice note to end with.

Daphna

I just called all four. Everybody still should call today on Thursday! Especially call Marty Golden and Andrew Lanza who are non-committal about their support. Tony Avella supports it strongly and the staffer who answers is very nice. The staffer for Savino just take down your opinion. The staffer for Lanza does the same and just takes note of your opinion. The staffer for Golden is nice and will listen to you state your reasons why 25mph is needed in NYC.